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AN OLD FRIEND

Scania 142

4,147,000 km and counting

When you travel enough kilometres with a truck, it starts to feel more like an old friend than a vehicle. That’s the kind of relationship Leif Eriksen enjoys with his Scania 142.

Built in the 1980s, the 14-litre Scania V8 has clocked up an astounding 4,147,000 kilometres, most of them with Eriksen at the wheel. While that distance is the equivalent of five return trips to the moon, Eriksen says it’s been almost entirely trouble-free driving.

“It is getting along in years, but I’ve never had any problems,” he says. “There are no guarantees, of course, as it’s travelled so many kilometres. But it’s had no repairs, apart from regular maintenance.”

Eriksen, who is from the town of Hadsund on Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula, spends his Saturdays washing and attending to minor repairs on the classic truck. Having spent so long in the vehicle, he knows exactly where its sweet spot can be found when he’s driving. “I drive nice and easy at 80 to 85 kilometres an hour,” he says. “That’s just the right speed, about 1,500 revs per minute.”

Having enjoyed a satisfying career, including transporting malt for Danish brewer Carlsberg, Eriksen is now ready for a rest. “I’ll be 70 in October, so it’s about time to retire,” he says.